'Left Turn on Red' now available at 50 sites

Motorists travelling through a busy Spring Hill intersection can now turn left on a red light, as part of Council’s crackdown on traffic congestion across the city.

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said road users were now permitted to turn left from Fortescue Street onto Gregory Terrace during a red light, after stopping and giving way to other vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists.

“This Spring Hill intersection is one of 25 more locations that are being upgraded to allow road users to ‘Turn Left on Red’ this month,” Cr Quirk said.

“This brings the city’s total to 50, doubling the number of locations available for motorists to take advantage of across the city.

“In last year’s budget, I announced that up to 50 Left Turn on Red sites would be implemented in the 14/15 financial year.”

‘Left Turn on Red’ was first trialled by Council from November 2013 to April 2014, before being rolled out periodically to a total of 25 sites.

Cr Quirk said the existing ‘Turn Left on Red’ locations had produced positive results, with an average reduction in delays of up to 30 seconds for motorists at some spots.

“While that might not sound like a lot, it is reducing trip times significantly,” he said.

“Left Turn on Red provides a significant boost to congestion reduction, because it cuts down on queuing, and allows for more green light time to be allocated to major roads when vehicles are turning left from side streets.

“This program is one example of how we can make the most out of our existing road network by implementing relatively minor changes to achieve reductions in travel times.

“Left Turn on Red sites are selected after careful assessment against the Australian Standard requirements, which include parameters for sight distance, pedestrian safety and intersection configuration.

“Council has invested $5.8 million in a range of congestion reduction minor works initiatives this financial year, and this project is yet another low-cost way of reducing congestion across the city.”